Friday, February 15, 2008

The Wedding Vow

Sharon Olds (2003)

I did not stand at the foot of the altar, I stoodat the foot of the chancel steps, with my beloved,and the minister stood on the top stepholding the open Bible. The churchwas wood, painted white inside, no people—God'sstable perfectly cleaned. It was night,Spring, outside a moat of mud,and inside, from the rafters, fliesfell onto the open Bible, and the ministertilted it and brushed them off. We stoodbeside each other, crying slightlywith fear and awe. In truth, we had marriedthat first night, in bed, we had beenmarried by our bodies, but now we stoodin history—what our bodies had saidmouth to mouth we now said publicly,gathered together, death. We stoodholding each other by the hand, yet I alsostood as if alone, for a moment,just before the vow, though takenyears before, took. It was a vowof the present and the future, and yet I felt itto have some touch on the distant pastor the distant past on it, I feltthe silent dry crying ghost of myparents' marriage there, somewherein the bright space—perhaps one of theplummeting flies, bouncing slightlyas it hit forsaking all others, then brushedaway. I felt as if I had cometo claim a promise—the sweetness I'd inferredfrom their sourness; and I felt as ifI had come, congenitally unworthy, to beg.And yet, I had been working toward this loveall my life. And then it was timeto speak—he was offering me, no matterwhat, his life. That is all I had todo, there, to accept that giftI had longed for—to say I had accepted it,as if being asked if I breathe. Do I take?I do. I take as he takes—we have beenpracticing this. Do you bear this pleasure? I do.

*~*

Yes... am not done yet with the "AWWW" :) Hope you enjoy this poem as much as I did.

Mommy Mec

Yakee & Yamee

Rubeus Iakob loves the outdoors, animals, dinosaurs, trucks, superheroes, books and Oreo. Good enough Kuya. Read more about his progress at his own blog.

Yannis Mikah has a greater appetite, loves blinking lights and going out and is growing a very persistent, stubborn personality. Good enough bunso. Read more about his progress at his own blog.

30-something and childlike, the couple continue their baby steps towards a more meaningful relationship, a crazier, happier love and well-invested years of discovery and growth. Ngarag but loving Intentional Parents to two boys. Favorite activities are still cuddling and tickling each other.